Therapeutic Trials in Two Cases with Chronic Meningitisvia Ommaya Reservoir

ABSTRACT

Ommaya reservoir implantation has been used for sterile assessment into ventricular CSF or direct chemotherapy of chronic meningitis and meningeal involvement of malignancy since 1963. We experienced two cases with chronic meningitis, one was tuberculous meningitis with obstructive hydrocephalus which was not improved by repetitive shunt and the other was cryptococcal meningitis which was not improved by traditional chemotherapy of intravenous amphotericin B and oral flucytosine. Ommaya reservoir was implanted for daily CSF drainage of intractable hydrocephalus in the first patient and for direct injection of amphotericin B into ventricle in the second patient. Both of two cases were successfully managed by the reservoir. Therefore, Ommaya reservoir could be useful in patients with chronic meningitis which are not improved by traditional management.